(Darien, CT - December 10, 1998): Hell hath no fury like a scorned commuter. That's what Metro-North discovered last month when they tried to change the timetable to accommodate more evening express trains from NYC to eastern-most points on the line such as Milford and New Haven.

"While those commuters from the city were getting faster rides, they got them at the expense of intra-state riders who saw their trains disappear in the news schedule," says CT Rail Commuter Vice Chmn. Jim Cameron. "Effective 10/26/98, what was a one-train ride from, say, Darien to New Haven, suddenly became a two-train ride with a change of trains in Bridgeport."

Over 60 commuters on train #1444 were affected, most of them intra-state riders. They presented Metro-North with petitions for the reinstatement of their train and the railroad responded.

Effective November 30^th, train #1444 was extended to its original terminus of New Haven, meaning that intra-state commuters who work in Darien, Norwalk and Westport can once again take one train all the way to New Haven. Many of these riders then connect with Shore Line East Railroad which takes them to points as far east as Guilford, Old Saybrook and New London.

"This means fewer cars on I-95," says Cameron who hailed the railroad for listening to its riders and responding with the renewal of service. Council member Joan Ventrilio who commutes from Guilford to Darien helped lead the petition drive. She said that she was "very pleased" that riders' pressure paid off. "After riding these trains for nine years it was a rude surprise to see them taken away, especially at a time when everyone said they were looking for ways to get cars off of I-95."

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